Artist Spotlight…MINT CONDITION!

Posted by | Cyrena Rose

PRETTY BROWN EYES, YOU KNOW I SEE YOU; IT’S A DISGUISE THE WAY YOU TREAT ME…

R&B’s hottest band, MINT CONDITION, celebrated their 20th anniversary as a band last year!  The group is well known for its highly diverse musical style (able to play anything from traditional jazz stylings to mainstream R&B and rock-based music to funk grooves and even Latin and Jamaican-based rhythms) and also its captivating live performances.

The members of Mint Condition met as teenagers growing up in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul) amidst a thriving music scene energized by Prince, The Time, Jam & Lewis, The Replacements, Soul Asylum and many other artists.  Keyboardists Lawrence El and Keri Lewis, guitarist O’Dell, keyboardist/saxophonist Jeff, drummer/vocalist Stokley, and bass player Ricky came together in the performing arts program at Central High School.  Playing together in different combinations led to them forming Mint Condition.  Currently, this line-up remains intact, with the exception of Lewis, who left the group to produce for other artists.

The group’s debut album, Meant To Be Mint, gave us hits like Breakin’ My Heart and Forever In Your Eyes.  Their last album 7… was critically hailed, featuring a top ten hit, Not My Daddy with Kelly Price which earned two Grammy nominations.  Mint Condition fans, you are in for a treat as the group is gearing up for another release, their new album Music @ The Speed of Life drops September 25th!

Some of the artists that they are working with on this album include Hip Hop legend DJ Jazzy Jeff and Brother Ali.  One of the standout tracks from the album may include a song titled Completely, which is a ballad about finally finding and accepting your place in life.  “It speaks to how we’ve synched up both in our respective personal lives and as a working band,” explains Mint Condition.

If you’re a Mint Condition fan, get ready to hear unforgettable ballads and funky head nodders!  The band is currently on tour, click here to see when they’ll be in a city near you.height=350